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Hydration Essay

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You can check the hydration status of your patient by checking the skin turgor of the patient. Pull the loose skin over the neck, also known as the scruff, release the skin and it should snap back if the patient is hydrated. If the patient is not hydrated you’ll determine the hydration status by approximately how many seconds it takes for the skin to retract. Another way to check the hydration status is to evaluate the capillary refill time, the CRT is typically 2 seconds or less. Press firmly on the gums and count how many seconds it takes for the color to return. The longer it takes for the refill time usually is an indicator of low cardiac output, 2 seconds or less means high cardiac output. Our 8 lb. feline is presented with 10% dehydration but…show more content…
You’ll first have to calculate for the dehydration, 8lb. is converted to 3.63kg. Take 3.63kg x 0.1(10%) = 0.363L/8hrs. Deficit of 0.045375L/hr x 1000L= 45mL/hr. Once patient is properly rehydrated and no sudden loses such as vomiting or diarrhea, drop down to a maintenance dose. You can calculate the maintenance dose by multiplying the weight in kg by itself twice. Press the square root button twice and multiple the result by 80 and divide the end result by 24. So, 3.63*3.63*3.63= 47.83, square root of 47.83= 6.91. Square root of 6.91 = 2.62. 2.62*80=210.38/24=8.76mL/hr. Place an IV catheter and monitor the catheter site for infection or swelling. “Intravenous fluid therapy involves placing an intravenous catheter in the leg or neck so that a continuous drip of fluids can be given directly into the bloodstream.”(Brooks) It’s important to monitor this patient closely, too much fluids on any animal can cause overload, “development of pulmonary edema from overload of the left side of the heart”, monitor respiratory rate and signs of distress. Continue to check the skin turgor of the patient and check the capillary refill time. Once the patient is of normal hydration, fluids can be discontinued at the
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